Understanding The Olivet Discourse: A Futurist Interpretation of Matthew 24-25

The biblical passage known as the Olivet Discourse is the most prominent prophetic teaching of Jesus in the New Testament. At a time when His earthly ministry and presence was concluding, Jesus gave the disciples, and through the account in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt. 24–25), future readers such as ourselves, important knowledge about God’s prophetic plan.

All three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) contain some or all of the Olivet Discourse. It is a central teaching in Bible prophecy.

In this passage, Jesus laid out an overview of key events that will take place during the seven-year tribulation culminating in His return to earth known as the second coming (24:4–31). Christ then speaks a series of parables to show the lessons to be learned as a result of His prophetic discourse (24:32–25).